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Part of government’s $9.46 million recovery plan for Aitutaki includes a ‘cash for work’ initiative to help inject much needed money into the economy now. The $100,000 initiative is designed to provide labour for the housing project and support the immediate clean up of debris from the cyclone. According to the recovery plan released last week, about 100 youth could benefit from the programme. Each would work about 20 six hour days for $36 a day. This assistance recognises that cash is needed for housing materials, food and other essentials and to retain the youth on the island – the population most likely to migrate permanently to Rarotonga and elsewhere. According to the recovery plan, ‘cash for work’ will promote local labour and provide employment opportunities for the unemployed, give youth an opportunity to gain skills in carpentry and assist Habitat for Humanity – who will provide technical support and guidance, but not a sufficient labour force for the task. The initiative will be administered by the ministry of internal affairs or by the Red Cross depending on what is finalised this week. Recovery coordinator Wilkie Rasmussen announced the initiative last Friday when he met with most sectors of the Aitutaki community to bring them news of the recovery plan.
Gypsy Jac pitches in
Sat
6 Mar
After the private yacht Gypsy Jac docked at the Avarua harbour last weekend, its captain has agreed to stop in Aitutaki to deliver some donated goods free of charge. Captain Chris Petch retrieved the Gypsy in San Francisco and will deliver the vessel in Melbourne. His journey will cover 9500 miles and include stopovers at San Diego, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Nuku Hiva, Tahiti, Rarotonga and Auckland. He will be transporting goods to Red Cross workers in Aitutaki, many of which were donated by Te Uki Ou schoolchildren. Te Uki Ou principal Jason Ataera said that the students raised money last week through a food drive and a movie night fundraiser last night. They launched the fundraisers as part of a lesson about numbers and money.
Good news for Aitutaki
Sat
6 Mar
Recovery plan brings a message of hope Government has given Aitutaki a message of hope – announcing a $9.46 million cyclone recovery and reconstruction plan. It aims to move quickly to undertake a $5 million housing project to repair and completely restore almost 300 homes on the island damaged by Cyclone Pat last month. Yesterday finance minister and recovery coordinator Wilkie Rasmussen took the 12-month recovery plan to the people of Aitutaki. Those who heard about the plan were relieved and grateful to hear what they described as the good news they had been waiting for. Rasmussen met with Aitutaki’s mayor, island council, business sector, and general public to tell them that not only would government use $2.7 million of its own funds, but the New Zealand government has already committed almost $4 million in initial funding so that the housing project and other forms of assistance can begin now. The minister travelled to Aitutaki with advisor Tamarii Pierre and UNDP disaster risk management advisor Moortaza Jiwanji and a CI News reporter. The minister announced the NZ government will contribute $8-10 million towards carrying out the recovery and reconstruction plan endorsed by cabinet on Thursday. Aitutakians were most interested in what kind of funding they would get to assist them in repairing and rebuilding 78 percent of the island’s homes. Housing grants will be provided in four categories with owners of about 72 homes in category four (completely destroyed) to receive a grant of up to $35,000 to help them build a basic one-bedroom home within the next 12 months. Rasmussen said he did not support the idea of kitset homes, but instead government will look at suitable designs which can be built by the people – keeping funds spent on construction in the economy. The first two categories – about 110 homes – which have minor damage up to 50 percent will receive a maximum of a $7500 grant each. Government will provide $825,000 in initial assistance to make sure these grants are paid out over the next two months. Those who have homes in category three (51-75 percent damaged) can look forward to a grant of up to $15,000 to help them carry out repairs. Rasmussen says the grants will be provided on the basis that home owners will be reimbursed the amounts they spend on materials to repair and rebuild. The minister says the plan is a ‘living document’ which government can only hope to improve on. Initial government assessments on the cost of repair and reconstruction of all damaged homes was around $15 million or $21 million including labour, so it has been acknowledged that the $4 million in housing grants will not cover everything. “I believe the cost will be much more than is estimated, than is planned, because this is a living thing. But I think funding can be covered.” NZAID is likely to cover the cost of an independent project manager to be brought in to the Cooks to oversee the housing project. “Some repair work has already been started by the people but for categories three and four we need a much more concerted effort. We need labour, skilled carpenters. You already have some here but we plan to assist with this,” Rasmussen told the island council. Housing and infrastructure are priorities but the plan will fund activities for social services, local economic recovery and disaster risk management planning. “We have a task at hand – I believe we can achieve this if we can work together,” Rasmussen told Aitutaki. Full details of the recovery plan – Cook Islands News next week.
Sharks return to take on Bears
Thu
4 Mar Friday afternoon is going to be the big day of rugby league this week-end with two main matches scheduled for the day. The Aitutaki Sharks are returning to Rarotonga to take on the Arorangi Bears while the wounded Titikaveka Bulldogs will take on the untested Tupapa Panthers. But first up today will be the match between the Bulldogs and Panthers under 13 grade at 3.45pm at Titikaveka. This match will be followed by the reserve grade match at 4.45pm. A busy day of games is scheduled for tomorrow with the remaining games between the Panthers and Bulldogs to be played out in the under 13, under 19 and premier grade match starting at 5.15pm. The premier grade match should be interesting match as the Bulldogs will still be licking their wounds after being mauled by the Aitutaki Sharks last Friday in Aitutaki. The Panthers on the other hand are yet to really show what they are made of, having only played two out of four games this season thanks to natural disasters postponing two of their scheduled matches. So the Panthers will be itching to do some damage on the Titikaveka field tomorrow. Out west at Raemaru Park, the Bears will host a buoyant Aitutaki Sharks/Warriors outfit who registered their first win last week. The Bears put in the extra yards on Saturday to train after their game against the Sea Eagles was postponed due to the tsunami and they are sure to put on a show for their supporters on Friday with their game to start at 5pm. On Saturday, the Avatiu Eels will head to Muri to take on the day’s host the Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles. But before you head to Muri, take a trip to Arorangi where the under 13 baby Eels and Bears will face off at 1pm. The first game out at Ngatangiia will start at 1.40pm with the under 16 grade and the main premier grade match will be played at 5pm. - Matariki Wilson Thursday March 4 Panthers vs Bulldogs at Titikaveka – 3.45pm under 13 grade, Ref-Tere Strickland assisted by club officials, 4.45pm reserve grade, Ref-Paul Allsworth assisted by Tere Strickland and Philip Strickland. Friday March 5 Panthers vs Bulldogs at Titikaveka – 3.45pm under 13 grade, Ref-Jeff Murray assisted by club officials, 4.15pm under 19 grade, Ref-Tutai Tuakana assisted by Bishop Bishop and Jeff Murray, 5.15pm premier grade, Ref-Sean Willis assisted by Paul Allsworth and George Magiie. Arorangi Bears vs Aitutaki Sharks/Warriors in Arorangi – 5pm premier grade, Ref-Ngavavia Tou assisted by Nga Takaiti and Taua Beniona. Saturday March 6 Eels vs Bears – 1pm under 13 grade, Ref-Taua Beniona assisted by club officials. Avatiu Eels vs Ngatangiia Sea Eagles at Ngatangiia – 1.40pm under 16 grade, Ref-Bishop Bishop assisted by Nga Takaiti and Ratu Mato, 2.40pm under 19 grade, Ref-Teokotai Tuaivi assisted by Nga Takaiti and Bishop Bishop, 3.40pm reserve grade, Ref-Simiona Teiotu assisted by Teokotai Tuaivi and Tutai Tuakana, 5pm premier grade, Ref-Tua Manea assisted by Tutai Tuakana and Ratu Mato.
Westpac’s package:
Thu
4 Mar In line with the two other trading banks, Westpac bank yesterday announced a range of measures to help those affected by Cyclone Pat. General manager Rob Buick says, “Our thoughts are with everybody affected by this disaster. “We spent three days assessing the damage and providing immediate assistance on the ground to our customers. I was shocked by the devastation, seeing families outside their damaged homes surrounded by debris. It was a very sad sight,” said Buick. The bank still has Rarotonga staff in Aitutaki assisting the branch operation and holding appointments with customers about their individual financial requirements. “Westpac understands how events like this can affect our customers and local communities. We know our customers’ financial circumstances will be affected and we encourage customers that need assistance to contact their local Westpac branch or relationship manager as soon as possible to discuss how we can help,” Buick said. Westpac’s relief package for Cook Islands customers include: • The suspension of repayments on Westpac Home Loans and Personal Loans for up to three months • No set up fees for existing Westpac business and personal customers on new loans or top up loans to repair cyclone damaged property • Restructuring loans without incurring the usual establishment fees for business customers • Terminating term deposits without the early termination fee penalty to allow for quick access to their funds • Replacement of EFTPOS /credit card terminals damaged continues to be free as per normal policy The bank also made a $26,000 donation yesterday towards the Red Cross Aitutaki School Breakfast programme which began last week as schools began reopening.
Westpac adds support to school breakfast programme
Thu
4 Mar Westpac donated $26,000 to Red Cross for the Aitutaki schools breakfast programme yesterday. “We looked at what would make the most difference in terms of community assistance and the school breakfast programme is a morale booster for the community. The children are all getting a good breakfast in the morning to be able to continue with their education and we think this is what parents want for them,” said Westpac manager operations James Mastapha. The breakfast programme began last Wednesday and will continue for at least six weeks, says Red Cross secretary general Niki Rattle. She says over 500 students and 37 teachers are receiving the free breakfast – cereal, bread, fruit, and milk – at all four Aitutaki schools. Red Cross and community volunteers have been providing the programme that aims to boost children’s spirits as they return to normal activities and also provides a nutritious meal to help with concentration and learning. “We are seeing a difference in the children coming to school. The most amazing thing yesterday was they were in uniform after coming to school for a week in mufti. We can see the normality falling into place again.” Rattle said Red Cross was grateful for the support from Westpac Bank. - HG
Habitat offers help for Aitutaki rebuild
Thu
4 Mar Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is poised to help the Cook Islands recover from the devastating onslaught of Cyclone Pat. The organisation is hoping to see NZ and Cook Islands volunteers working together on Aitutaki’s housing reconstruction programme. Yesterday minister responsible for the recovery plan for Aitutaki, Wilkie Rasmussen, said the offer of assistance would be welcomed as long as ‘they work with our system’. Rasmussen said he was aware that Habitat officials were coming back for a second visit next week and he had yet to meet them. The organisation’s Samoa project manager, Lou Maea, recently visited Aitutaki, where he met with government officials and other disaster response agencies. He describes their response as very enthusiastic, after hearing of Habitat’s work in Samoa. In a Habitat press release issued yesterday, it says the programme for the Cooks will be designed along similar lines to Habitat New Zealand’s current project in tsunami-ravaged Samoa. Next week, Habitat New Zealand’s CEO Pete North is also to meet with government, to further develop plans for the recovery effort. Meanwhile, Habitat has already launched an appeal to raise $300,000 for facilitating its Cook Islands rebuilding programme. “With the people of Aitutaki struggling to come to terms with their loss and with many of them facing an indeterminate time in emergency shelter, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand believes it simply must respond. Moreover, given our experience in building fales for many Samoans left homeless by last year’s tsunami, we are particularly well placed to help out on Aitutaki,” said North. “The cyclone damage on Aitutaki may not seem huge when compared to the horrendous results of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, to which Habitat for Humanity International is also mounting a response. However, the Cook Islands is a very close Pacific neighbour, and Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens. So we can’t let them down.” “We know we have the ability to respond. But we still need help from generous New Zealanders to ensure that we have the financial means to assist our neighbours rebuild their homes and lives,” he added. Habitat for Humanity is a non-denominational Christian not-for-profit organisation that helps more than 60,000 families across the globe into homes every year. Go to www.habitat.org.nz/donate to find out more about the Habitat assistance for the Cook Islands.
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| Avatea school donated mufti day proceeds to the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Fund – and now the committee wants ideas and suggestions on how the fund should be spent or distributed. 10021934 |
Having raised $127,000, the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee is under pressure to decide how to allocate the money.
Florence Syme-Buchanan, ACAC secretary, said that the committee as the “parent body” does not intend to divvy up the money without community input and has plans to canvass each village for suggestions as to how to distribute funds.
ACAC chairman George George said that director of audit Paul Allsworth has agreed to conduct a formal audit of all ACAC accounts and Allsworth said that his office is “happy to help” the ACAC to prove its credibility and accountability.
Syme-Buchanan said the committee will donate the money to a worthy “community project” that will benefit the entire island.
She also said that ACAC does not plan to give money directly to families that lost their homes because it “might give them an incentive to leave”.
The committee is working closely with Cook Islands Red Cross director Niki Rattle to determine a plan for distributing funds.
George said that ACAC has also made contact with Habitat for Humanity, which is planning to send New Zealand and Cook Islands volunteers to Aitutaki to launch a “massive house rebuilding programme”.
The organisation has launched an appeal to raise $300,000 to fund the programme.
“We’ve had a telephone conversation with Habitat for Humanity marketing manager David Lawson and we’d like to explore the possibility of maybe assisting the organisation with the rebuilding programme,” George said. “This is one area that we can consider for the funds.”
Committee representatives will meet with Lawson and Habitat for Humanity CEO Pete North when they arrive in Rarotonga next week.
Air Raro managing director Ewan Smith says that in the wake of Cyclone Pat and its would-be successors, flight schedules are “pretty much back to normal”.
Air Raro continues to run special freight flights to Aitutaki to transport supplies to the recovering island, but is otherwise back on track and running regular flights.
“Apart from the obvious disruptions – tsunami warnings, cyclone warnings – it’s all back to normal,” Smith said.
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| Good news will break on Aitutaki today – and these schoolgirls pictured amusing themselves after Cyclone Pat will be among those whose families are eager to repair and rebuild their homes. 10022516 |
The Aitutaki cyclone recovery plan is due to be approved by cabinet and its contents revealed today by minister Wilkie Rasmussen.
According to a ‘draft Aitutaki Domestic Housing Policy’ leaked to CI News, government is looking at both a low cost and a high cost option for its housing project under the recovery plan.
Cost estimates in the draft policy put the low cost option at $3.6 million to $4.7 million, and the high cost option at up to $6.7 million.
Rasmussen told CI News yesterday that New Zealand aid will likely cover the majority of the assistance package, especially in damage category three and four which are the homes with over 50 percent damage and those completely destroyed.
The finance minister said it was likely that half a million dollars in government funding would go towards the first two house damage categories – the minor damage and the damage of up to 50 percent of the home.
Mostly consisting of ‘light repairs’, these two categories apply to over 100 homes in Aitutaki and Rasmussen says much of the cost of work already carried out on them will be able to be reimbursed by government.
The housing project is likely to be carried out on a grants basis – from a possible $2000-$5000 grant for minor damage repair, to a grant of possibly up to $10,000 for repairs to roof, walls, electrical wiring , plumbing and temporary power connection for homes in category two, to the priority category four $35,000 grant for a basic kitset home.
Rasmussen confirmed that government is likely to contract a project manager to oversee the housing project and that the ministry of finance and his staff would retain control of the finances.
While Habitat for Humanity NZ has offered to send hundreds of volunteers to help, the minister says he also wants to see Aitutaki and Rarotonga building contractors get work from the housing project.
In the draft plan which was dated a week ago, a basic home design would have to be put to the Aitutaki community before the total costs of the project could be refined.
According to the draft policy, the Red Cross assessment found that 88 homes were completely destroyed in the cyclone. The island has between 300 and 320 residential properties.
“I think it’s workable,” says the minister of the overall recovery plan.
Rasmussen says other forms of assistance under the recovery plan should also be announced this week.
The minister plans to go to Aitutaki either today or tomorrow to announce the full plan to the people.
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